By Rene V. Carbayas
ISABELA CITY, Basilan, Nov. 3 (PIA) – After three months of captivity, kidnap victim Princess Jewel Mariel Nique was released by the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) at Jolo pier, Barangay Walled City, Jolo, Sulu at 2:30 p.m. last Oct. 29.
Capt. Maria Rowena A. Muyuela from the Command Public Information Office of Western Mindanao Command (WesMinCom) disclosed in a press release that Nique, 8, a resident of Olutanga Municipality in Zamboanga Sibugay, was reunited to her father, James Nique, at Camp Kasim, Barangay Asturias, Jolo, Sulu and they immediately boarded a commercial vessel (Kristle Jane 3) bound for Zamboanga City.
The victim was abducted on July 25, 2014 at Barangay Poblacion, Olutanga, Zamboanga Sibugay by five unidentified lawless elements believed to be from Barangay Taguisian of nearby Mabuhay town.
Muyuela said that authorities have yet to confirm whether the family of the victims paid a ransom money for the safe release of the minor victim.
The AFP, in support of the PNP intensifies the conduct of law enforcement operations to expedite the capture of lawless elements responsible for the series of kidnapping activities in the province.